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[quote=Anonymous]Got a call from my sibling last night.  Niece is suffering from some sort of eating disorder, depression, anxiety, and has been cutting herself.  She's been in hospital for almost a week, expected to be discharged soon, maybe.  Sibling was unclear on details.  They are medicating her, and sibling said there seems to be some sort of "hard wiring" for mental health issues (I took this to mean chemical imbalances).

I asked sibling if I could visit and he said niece doesn't want anyone to know she is there and begged my sibling not to tell extended family.  Sibling is going to ask her again if she wants visitors.

I've offered to clear my calendar for sibling, anything they need just ask, etc.  There is a younger child in the family, and I've offered anything they need.

What else can I do?  What should I do?

I'm scared - she's not even a teenager yet, which makes me think my sibling is in for a long, unpleasant ride, not to mention the suffering of my poor niece.  I'm also more of a pull yourself together kind of person - there is no history of mental illness in our family, so we're tough love, deal with it, move on kind of people, if that makes sense.  I don't want to inadvertently say something that's impossible (you're depressed? what do you have to be depressed about? go outside and get some sunshine!).  Any words of wisdom?  [/quote]

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